CHILDREN face a north-south divide in the pocket money stakes, and those from less well-off households get more than children with wealthier parents, a report claims today.

Seven to 10-year-olds living in the north of England and Scotland receive an average of &#xA3;3 pocket money a week, while those in the South get just &#xA3;2.67, according to market analyst Mintel.

Around 13pc of children in the north get given &#xA3;5 a week or more by their parents, compared with just 9pc who live south of the Midlands, while 17pc of southern children get less than a &#xA3;1 a week, compared with 12pc in the North.

The divide is also evident among children aged 11 to 14, with those in the north receiving an average of &#xA3;6.67, 28p a week more than their southern counterparts.

The research also found that parents on lower incomes are more generous to their children than more affluent families.

Children, aged seven to 10, from a family in the C2DE socio-economic group get an average of &#xA3;2.97 pocket money a week and &#xA3;127 a year as presents, while those from an ABC1 family get &#xA3;2.55 a week and around &#xA3;120 a year.

The gap narrows slightly among the older age group, with those from less well-off households getting an average of &#xA3;6.67 a week, while those from better off ones get &#xA3;6.26.